Memory magnet controls for a machine which automatically changes records

ABSTRACT

A control arrangement for a machine which automatically changes disc records. The structure for controlling the sequence in which the records are played, in accordance with selections which are preliminarily made, includes two rows of apertured memory magnets directed to an electrical selecting mechanism so that through the latter information in accordance with the records selected is introduced into the memory magnets. The memory magnets in one row are respectively aligned with the memory magnets in the other row to form therewith pairs of aligned magnets which respectively correspond to the opposite sides of a given record. A signalextinguishing conductor extends through each pair of aligned memory magnets, has one end connected to one electrical contact and has an opposed end connected to a collecting conductor which is common to all of the opposed ends of all of the signalextinguishing conductors. An electrically conductive slip member extends along the row of contacts to which all of the signalextinguishing conductors are respectively connected, and a scanner is moved together with a movable record magazine along the slip member and successively along the row of contacts providing a bridge between the latter and the slip member. A read-out conductor extends through all of the memory magnets in one row which correspond respectively to one of the sides of the series of records and another read-out conductor extends through the memory magnets of the other row which respectively correspond to the other sides of the series of records in the magazine. These read-out conductors are both connected electrically to a dual read-out amplifier, and an electrical circuit is connected with the slip member, the common collector conductor, and the amplifier for providing automatic selection of a given side of a given record corresponding to a memory magnet to which a selecting signal has been transmitted to be stored therein, when the scanner bridges the contact connected to the signalextinguishing conductor which passes through the latter memory magnet which has the selection signal and completes a circuit between the latter contact and the slip member.

gtates yatent [191 1 .Hune 12, W73

[ MEMORY MAGNET CONTROLS FOR A MACHINE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY CHANGES RECORDS [75] Inventor: Heinrich Meyer, Haldem, Germany [73] Assignee: Wilhelm l-larting Werk fur Elektrotechnik und Mechanik, Espeklamp, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 230,289

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerHarold l. Pitts Attorney-Arthur O. Klein [57] ABSTRACT A control arrangement for a machine which automatically changes disc records. The structure for controlling the sequence in which the records are played, in accordance with selections which are preliminarily made, includes two rows of apertured memory magnets directed to an electrical selecting mechanism so that through the latter information in accordance with the records selected is introduced into the memory magnets. The memory magnets in one row are respectively aligned with the memory magnets in the other row to form therewith pairs of aligned magnets which respec tively correspond to the opposite sides of a given record. A signal-extinguishing conductor extends through each pair of aligned memory magnets, has one end connected to one electrical contact and has an opposed end connected to a collecting conductor which is common to all of the opposed ends of all of the signal-extinguishing conductors. An electrically conductive slip member extends along the row of contacts to which all of the signal-extinguishing conductors are respectively connected, and a scanner is moved together with a movable record magazine along the slip member and successively along the row of contacts providing a bridge between the latter and the slip member. A read out conductor extends through all of the memory magnets in one row which correspond respectively to one of the sides of the series of records and another readout conductor extends through the memory magnets of the other row which respectively correspond to the other sides of the series of records in the magazine. These read-out conductors are both connected electrically to a dual read-out amplifier, and an electrical circuit is connected with the slip member, the common collector conductor, and the amplifier for providing automatic selection of a given side of a given record corresponding to a memory magnet to which a selecting signal has been transmitted to be stored therein, when the scanner bridges the contact connected to the signal-extinguishing conductor which passes through the latter memory magnet which has the selection signal and completes a circuit between the latter contact and the slip member.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented June 12, 1973 3,739,343

Patented June 12, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 8 o ll a NSQN E N Patented June 12, 1973 3,739,343

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 12, 1973 3,739,343

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MEMORY MAGNET CONTROLS FOR A MACHINE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY CHANGES RECORDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to machines for automatically playing disc records in a selected sequence.

Such machines have, for example, a ring-shaped rotary record magazine or a linearly movable record magazine, and these types of magazines either rotate or move linearly, respectively, with respect a playing mechanism to which a selected record is delivered and from which the record is returned after the selected side thereof has been played.

It is known with machines of this type to store the selecting information in memory magnets.

For example, it is known to provide for a given side of a given record a bistable memory magnet provided with an aperture through which a conductor extends. The polarity of such a magnet is changed to provide an impulse for starting the playing operation of the selected record side when the particular memory magnet initially has received a signal electrically in accordance with selection of a record from a given group and a side of the record in the given group, to provide from both of these selecting signals a full induction which polarizes the memory magnet from its initial condition into an information-retaining condition. A plurality of these memory magnets are conventionally provided, and the memory magnets are scanned by a scanner which provides a signal-extinguishing impulse by way of a signalextinguishing conductor which extends through each memory magnet, so that in this way a memory magnet to which a selecting signal has been transmitted and in which the signal is stored is returned from its information-retaining condition back to its initial condition, extinguishing the selection information stored in the memory magnet and in this way providing a rapid change in the magnetic field which produces in a readout conductor a current impulse which brings about an immediate response by way of the scanner through the read-out amplifier so as to set into operation the structure which plays the particular side of a particular record which corresponds to the memory magnet in which the selecting information was initially stored.

The above type of selection extinguishing system, as contrasted with mechanical or electro-mechanical machines for producing similar results, has the advantage of operating noiselessly with almost no inertia while carrying out the storing and extinguishing operations, and at the same time there is the advantage of a compact construction. This type of structure is to be found with many automatic record changers, in particular those which are coin-operated. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,553 there is a disclosure of a structure of this type where the memory magnets are arranged in a matrix, the disclosed device having a linearly extending stationary record magazine as well as a scanning structure for scanning the memory magnets, while the record-playing mechanism moves back and forth with the scanner.

With systems of the above type, there is indeed a reliable yet only half-way satisfactory operation, because with the known constructions after one side of a given record has been played, it is not possible to immediately play the other side of the same record, even though both sides of the same record have preliminarily been selected. Thus it is not possible to use with the known machines records where one side forms a continuation of the other side. Also, it is not possible to provide a renewed selection of the same side of a given record which has already been selected and which is about to be played, so that the possibilities of selection are strongly limited by the particular operating condition of the machine.

Moreover, with the known machines it is also not possible to provide either an automatic introduction of a complete program of records which are to be played or a complete extinguishing of the signals previously introduced, while the record magazine or recordplaying mechanism are at rest, in the shortest possible time, and in addition it is not possible to provide an automatic selection or extinguishing of a predetermined group of selected records which form a part of a rotating magazine or a part of a linear magazine along which the record-playing mechanism constantly moves back and forth. Such special operations are essential, so that a desired complete program of records can be achieved without going through a time-consuming operation of individual selection of a series of records, as well as for the case where all of the records are to be exchanged for another series of records so that a complete extinguishing of all of the stored information is required in the shortest possible time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a machine of the above type which will avoid the above drawbacks.

Thus, it is one of the specific objects of the invention to provide a machine of the above type with the possibility of playing immediately one after the other the opposed sides of the same record.

Also it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the prevention of the possibility of immediately selecting to replay a given side of a given record even during the time when the operations in connection with the first selection of the particular side of a given record are going forward.

Also it is an object of the invention to provide the possibility of an automatic complete selection of all of the records in a manner which requires only a single momentary operation, as well as the possibility of a complete extinguishing of all selection information in a single momentary operation when record magazine is at rest or when the record-playing mechanism is at rest.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the possibility of introducing a selection of a predetermined group of records forming part of the entire magazine, or extinguishing of such previously introduced information signals, either while a rotary record magazine continues to rotate or while, in case of a linearly reciprocating record-playing mechanism, the latter continues to move back and forth.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement where the electrical contacts of the system are protected from becoming burned.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction which is rugged and which will have a long life of reliable operation, requiring practically no maintenance or exchange of components even after long periods of use.

In accordance with the invention the machine for automatically playing selected records includes a support means which carries a first row of apertured memory magnets respectively corresponding to one of the sides of a series of records carried by a magazine as well as a second row of apertured memory magnets which respectively correspond to the other of the sides of the series of records. These rows of memory magnets are arranged beside each other with the memory magnets of the second row being respectively aligned with those of the first row to form pairs of aligned memory magnets. Thus, each pair of aligned memory magnets will respectively correspond to opposite sides of the same record. A plurality of electrically conductive contacts are carried by the support means and form a third row of elements located beside one of the rows of memory magnets with the number of these contacts equalling the number of memory magnets in each row and with each contact corresponding to a given pair of aligned memory magnets. A plurality of signal-extinguishing conductors respectively extend first through apertured memory magnets of the first row and then through the memory magnets of the second row so that each pair of aligned memory magnets has one of the signalextinguishing conductors extending therethrough. These signal-extinguishing conductors are respectively connected electrically at one of their ends to the contacts which respectively correspond to the pairs of aligned memory magnets through which the signalextinguishing conductors respectively extend. A single elongated collector conductor is carried by the support means and is electrically connected to the ends of all of the signal-extinguishing conductors which are distant from the contacts, so that the collecting conductor is common to all of the signal-extinguishing conductors. An electrically conductive slip member is carried by the support means and extends along, while being spaced from, the row of contacts, and an electrically conductive scanner bridges the space between the slip member and the row of contacts. A moving means cooperates with the scanner moving the latter along the row of contacts and along the slip member for successively connecting the contacts electrically with the slip member, and this moving means moves the magazine of records simultaneously with the scanner. A first read-out conductor extends through all of the memory magnets in the first row, while a second read-out conductor extends through all of the memory magnets in the second row. A dual read-out amplifier means is electrically connected with the first and second readout conductors for amplifying the signals received therefrom. A manually operable electrical selecting means is electrically connected with the memory magnets for transmitting thereto signals corresponding to the selected side of the records, so that memory magnets corresponding to selected sides of the records will have signals transmitted thereto in order to be extinguished through the corresponding signal-extinguishing conductors during movement of the scanner. An electrical circuit means is electrically connected with the slip member, the common collector conductor, and the amplifier means for extinguishing a selection signal stored in a selected memory magnet when the scanner engages a contact corresponding to the latter memory magnet in which the signal is stored, so as to provide through the first and second read-out conductors a response to the amplifier means which will bring about playing of a selected side of a selected record corresponding to the memory magnet which has its signal extinguished. The manually operable selecting means maintains the signals in the corresponding memory magnets at least as long as the manually operable selecting means is operated manually to introduce the signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective partly diagrammetic representation of an electrically non-conductive support means and some of the memory magnets car ried thereby as well as some of the elongated conductors which are carried by the support means, FIG. 1 also illustrating the rotary scanner and the structure for rotating the same;

FIG. 2 is schematic wiring diagram of a single impulse generator for providing the electrical impulse which brings about playing of a selected side of a selected record, FIG. 2 illustrating a pair of reversing switch means for the common collector conductor to which all of the signal-extinguishing conductors are connected as well as for the read-out conductors, and FIG. 2 also illustrating part of the memory magnets;

FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of a multipleimpulse generating circuit which forms the manually operable selecting means, FIG. 3 showing the manually operated switches which are manipulated to bring about the desired selections, as well as part of the memory magnets in'a schematic manner, the conductors which extend through the memory magnets to introduce the selecting information therein being also shown schematically in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the complete support means and memory magnets thereon for an automatic record changer having 140 record sides and provided with a rotary ring-shaped record magazine, FIG. 4 illustrating the read-out conductors and part of the extinguishing conductors; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a complete support means as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 showing completely the information introducing conductors ES 2 and ES 9, corresponding to record sides 2 and 9, as well as part of the remainder of the information-introducing conductors ES 4 ES 10 and ES 1 ES 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As is apparent from FIGS. 1, 4,and 5, the illustrated embodiment of the invention relates to a machine for controlling the selection and playing in an automatic record changer or coinoperated music box having records which can be selected and played, these records being radially arranged in a ring-shaped rotary magazine, the illustrated structure having a stationary electrically non-conductive support means HG, in the form ofa circular disc, which carries memory magnets Al, A2, A3, A4 etc. respectively corresponding to the opposite sides of the 70 records, and arranged in the immediate vicinity of the record magazine in such a way that the records are located opposite the memory magnets which are supported in a stationary manner in a pair of concentric circular rows. Thus, as is clearly shown in'FIG. l, the odd numbered memory magnets respectively correspond to one of the sides, for example and front side, of the series of records while the even numbered memory magnets respectively correspond to the other of the sides of the records, for example the reverse or second sides of the individual records. Each group of five successive records are designated with a single letter, so that each group includes ten record sides. Thus, the memory magnets Al and A2 correspond to a record of group A having sides 1 and 2, both of the memory magnets A9 and A correspond to another record of group A having sides 9 and 10, and both of the memory magnets B5 and B6 correspond to a record of group B having sides 5 and 6. With the illustrated fourteen groups of records designated respectively by letters A-O, there are informationintroducing conductors EGA, EGB, EGC-EGO each in the form of a U-shaped loop and respectively provided for the several groups A-O, with each of these information conductors extending first through the aligned apertures of the odd-numbered record sides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 of each group and then through the five apertures of the memory magnets 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 of each group. All of these information-introducing conductors are electrically connected to a common group return conductor GR which extends along a circle concentric with the rows of memory magnets, surrounded by the latter and carried by the disc HG, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. A second series of information-introducing conductors ES 1, ES 2, ES 3 ES 10 are respectively common to all of the groups with each of these conductors extending through a corresponding memory magnet of each group. Thus, the information-introducing conductor ES 1 extends through the memory magnets A1, B1, Cl-Ol, the conductor ES 2 extends through the memory magnets A2, B2, C2- 02, etc. These latter information-introducing conductors, after passing through the corresponding memory magnets of all of the groups are electrically connected to a common return conductor SR carried by the support means HG, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, all of the odd numbered memory magnets are arranged in the outer row for the odd-numbered record sides have a common read-out conductor LU extending therethrough, while all of the inner row of memory magnets A2, A4, A6 B2, B4 02 010, for the even numbered record sides, have a further common read-out conductor LG extending therethrough. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, these read-out conductors LG and LU are electrically connected with a dual read-out amplifier means DLV. Moreover, all of the memory magnets which are reversely magnitized by the information-introducing conductors EGA, EGB ESl, BS2 are capable of being returned to their initial conditions with a return magnetization resulting from the operation of signal-extinguishing conductors L0 A l/2, L0 A 3/4 Lo B 1/2 These signalextinguishing conductors respectively extend in the form of an open loop first through the several memory magnets corresponding to one of the sides of the records and then through the several memory magnets corresponding to the other side of the records, so that a single signal-extinguishing conductor extends through both of the memory magnets corresponding to the opposite sides of the same record. After passing through the pairs of aligned memory magnets in this manner, all of the signal-extinguishing conductors are electrically connected to a common collecting conductor LoS carried by the support means HG in the manner illustrated. The opposed free ends of the several signalextinguishing conductors L0 A l/2 are respectively connected electrically with a series of contacts KA l/2,

KA 3/4 KB 1/2 KO 1/2 these contacts being arranged along a row concentric with the rows of memory magnets in spaced relation to the unillustrated records on the non-conductive support means HG. An electrically conductive scanner AG has one end which sweeps across the several contacts successively during rotary movement of the scanner AG. The scanner is formed of a single unit which includes a leaf-spring and slide-contact assembly. The inner end of the scanner AG which is distant from the row of contacts successively engaged thereby is constantly in engagement with a circular electrically conductive slip member SL which is carried by the non-conductive support means HG concentrically surrounded by the rows of memory magnets and contacts. Thus, the scanner AG bridges the space between the contacts and the slip member providing successive electrical connection between the successive contacts and the slip member. The scanner AG is carried by and insulated from a moving means in the form of a rotary arm MA which is fixed at its inner end to the rotary shaft DA whose axis coincides with the axis about which the record magazine turns so that the magazine, the moving means MA and the scanner AG turn together in the direction of the arrow P shown in FIG. 1. The slip member SL, and all of the contacts KA 1/2 etc., as well as the circular conductors GR and LoS, and the conductors SR are in the form of elongated electrical conductors having the construction of a printed circuit on a suitable plastic sheet which forms the support means HG, this plastic sheet supporting the memory magnets either in suitable slots, as shown in FIG. 1, or in suitable plastic shells, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and S.

The selection information is introduced into the memory magnets by reversing the magnetism thereof during normal operation through the action of corresponding selecting switches or keys WA, WB-WO as well as W1, W2-W10, which are selectively operated by the operator who depresses the keys to close the corresponding switches (See FIG. 3) so that through the keys WA-WO selection information for the several groups A-O is provided while through the keys Wl-W 10 selection information for a selected side within a given group is provided As may be seen from FIG. 3, upon closing of a group-selecting switch, such as, for example, the switch WA, the illustrated information introducing generator circuit of FIG. 3, which forms part of the circuit means of the invention, will have an astable multivibrator with complementary transistors T3, T4 connected into the circuit between the upper positive potential line and the lower zero potential line by way of a switch S 4 which is mechanically coupled with the group-selecting switches so as to be closed when any one of these switches WA-WO is closed. The closing of a selected switch such as the switch WA also serves to connect the circuit from the positive potential line through the group information introducing conductor EGA, through all of the memory magnets of group A, and in this way the circuit is completed through the latter conductor EGA to the return conductor GR which is electrically connected to the terminal resistor R 16 which supplies the series of information impulses. In this way the several memory magnets Al-Al0 of the selected group are provided with half the induction required to bring about a selection of a given record, this induction being in itseif insufficient to complete the selection. By way of the additional closing of a side-selecting switch, such as, for example, the side-selecting switch W2, the positive potential line is connected through the information conductor ES 2 and the return conductor SR to the terminal resistor R16, so that all of the number 2 side records of all of the groups receive half the induction required for completing the selection ofa given record. Through the addition of these inductions in the memory magnet A2, this particular memory magnet is electrically energized with the full number of ampere windings, and becomes reversely magnetized, so that it stores the information corresponding to the selection which has been made. In the same way selections of all of the sides of all of the records may be carried out.

When the rotating scanner AG engages the contact KA 1/2, then, as shown in FIG. 2, the slip member SL is electrically connected to the upper positive potential line of the circuit means shown in FIG. 2 through a stationary contact of a first reversing switch means S l and a stationary contact of a second reversing switch means S 2 which is in series with the contact of the first reversing switch means, as well as through the common collector conductor LoS and the extinguishing conductor Lo A 1/2 which extends through the memory magnets All and A2, so that in this way additional stationary series-connected contacts of the reversing switches S l and S 2 provide an electrical connection between the positive potential line and an RC circuit having an adjustable time constant resistor R 4 T, a charging resistor R 4, and a capacitor C 2 which is electrically connected at one of its terminals to the zero potential line shown in the bottom of FIG. 2. The capacitor C0 2 is electrically connected connected with the emitter EM of a unijunction transistor T1, the base of which has a base terminal Ba 2 connected through a resistor R 5 to the positive potential line and a second base terminal Ba 1 connected on the one hand through a resistor R 7 to the zero potential line and on the other hand through a resistor R 8 to the base of a switching transistor T2. The time constant of the RC circuit is adjusted in accordance with the speed of movement of the scanner, or in other words the time which is required to pass from the instant when the scanner engages a given contact KA l/2, etc. until the scanner reaches the center of the particular contact, this time being on the order of approximately 40 ms. After this time has elapsed, the capacitor C0 2 is charged and has reached the voltage required to ignite the transistor T 1 so that the emitterbase path of the latter transistor becomes conductive and the capacitor C0 2 discharges through the resistor R 7 and controls the base of the switching transistor T 2 by transmitting thereto a positive impulse through the resistor R 8. In this way the switching transistor T 2 becomes correspondingly conductive for a short period of time with an impulse type of operation, and closes the switching circuit only at this moment. Thus at this moment there is a reverse magnetization of the memory magnet A2, which returns to its initial condition, through the circuit which includes the positive potential line, the signal-extinguishing conductor Lo A 1/2, the scanner AG, the slip member SL, the low-ohm resistor R 10, and the collector-emitter path to the zero potential line, so that the reverse magnetization of the memory magnet A2 is brought about by way ofa strong current impulse. As a result of the rapid field change which takes place during the reverse magnetization, a voltage impulse is produced in the read-out conductor LG, and with the ignition of the unijunction transistor T 1 this impulse is transmitted to the activating conductor AL which activates the dual read-out amplifier means DLV. This operation of the amplifier means DLV brings about stopping of the movement of the re cord magazine and the scanner AG as well as removal of the corresponding record and playing of the selected side thereof. The energizing of the dual read-out amplifier means is maintained until the record is automatically returned to its location in the record magazine.

Simultaneously with the ignition of the unijunction transistor T 1, a positive impulse is conducted to the ignition electrode Z of the thyristor Th 1 through the base terminal Ba 1 and the resistor R 6. The thyristor thus becomes ignited through its anode-cathode path, and provides by way of the resistor R 3 and the return current flow blocking diode Di 1 a shunt-type of bridging of the capacitor C0 2 so that in this way a repeated charging of the latter capacitor is prevented during this phase of the operation. Through the cathode Ka which is connected to the zero potential line, the thyristor Th 1 is connected through its anode An, the series connected resistors R l and R 2 as well as a diode Di 2 which also prevents a reverse flow of current through the capacitor C 2, to the stationary contacts of the re versing switch means S1 and S2, and from the latter to the slip member SL, the scanner AG, the contact KA 1/2, the extinguishing conductor L0 1/2, and the collector conductor LoS as well as the other stationary contacts of the reversing switch means S1 and S2 with the positive potential line, and thus the required holding current flows through the circuit primarily by way of the pair of resistors R 1 and R 2 which have a much lower resistance than the parallel-connected high-ohm resistors R 4 T and R 4 which are connected in parallel with the resistors R l and R 2 through the diode Di 1 and the low-ohm resistor R 3. In order to prevent extinguishing of thyristor Th 1 during a short interruption of the control circuit through the slip number SL and the contact connected thereto through the scanner, a vibration-protecting capacitor C0 1 is provided, this capacitor being connected in parallel with the thyristor through the resistor R 2. Thus the resistor R 1 acts as a charging resistor and the resistor R 2 acts as a discharging resistor for the capacitor C0 1.

During the time that the dual read-out amplifier means DLV is energized, the switch S 3 which is closed by this amplifier means provides a circuit through the ignition electrode Z of thyristor Th 1 by way of the resistor R 9 for connecting the ignition electrode Z with an auxiliary positive potential line having a much smaller potential than the upper positive potential line of FIG. 2. By maintaining the thyristor Th 1 ignited in this manner, there is a reliable prevention of a renewed charging and discharging of the capacitor C0 2 during this phase of the operation and thus there is a prevention of an accompanying extinguishing impulse through the switching transistor T 2. Only after the corresponding selected side of the selected record has been played will there be through simultaneous deenergizing of the dual read-out amplifier means DLV an interruption in the ignition of the thyristor Th 1. Only during the succeeding further movement of the record magazine and the scanner AG, with the latter moving beyond the contact KA U2, is there an interruption in the abovedescribed control circuit and thus also an extinguishing of the thyristor by termination of the holding current thereof. When the scanner AG engages the next contact KA 3/4, the above operations are again renewed and carried out.

Assuming that the memory magnets A3 and A4 by preliminary actuation of the switches WA and W3 as well as WA and W4 have had their magnetization reversed by introduction of the information signals as described above, in order to provide a corresponding playing of both sides of the corresponding record one directly after the other, the following operations take place. The ignition impulse, which is retarded after the scanner engages the contact KA 3/4 as a result of the time constant of the RC circuit R 4 T, R 4, Co 2, is introduced through the unijunction transistor T l and thus brings about ignition of the switching transistor T2 through a corresponding signal extinguishing impulse at both of the memory magnets A3 and A4 so that the latter return to their initial condition, whereby in both of the read-out conductors LU and LG there is a simultaneous voltage impulse. These simultaneous voltage impulses are transmitted to the dual read-out amplifier means DLV to bring about from the latter an immediate stopping of the movement of the record magazine, a removal of the corresponding record as well as a playing first of one side thereof, for example side 4, and then the other side thereof namely side 3, and finally the return of the played record to the record magazine. The stopping of the operation of the dual read-out amplifier means DLV at this time permits the record magazine and the scanner AG to move on to the next contact, for example, KA 5/6 as described above. If it happens that the memory magnets AS and A6 corresponding thereto are not provided with a selecting signal, or in other words are not reversely magnetized, then the engagement of the scanner with the contact does bring about an extinguishing impulse through the transistor T2 in the memory magnets A5 and A6, but because of the lack of any change in the magnetic field, there is no voltage impulse created in the read-out conductors LU and LG and in spite of the electrical connection to the dual read-out amplifier means through the conductor AL this latter amplifier means is not energized. Therefore, the magazine and scanner continue to move along and beyond this contact without remaining stationary and will only be stopped when engaging a contact connected through an extinguishing conductor to a memory magnet which has the reversely magnetized condition as a result of the storing of a selecting signal therein.

Since, as described above, the transmission of the selection signals to the memory magnets through the selecting switches WA W0, W1 W10 takes place through a series of interrelated impulses of the information generating circuit of FIG. 3, the introduction of an additional selection signal is possible even during an extinguishing operation in the very same memory magnet. At this time the particular memory magnet which has been reversely magnetized previously through the storing of the selection signal is first returned to its initial condition by the strong extinguishing impulse but immediately thereafter becomes again reversely magnetized as a result of the longer duration of the impulse series which introduces the selection signal, so that in this way the memory magnet again assumes the signalretaining condition immediately after extinguishing of the previous signal therein.

In the case where the memory magnets are in their initial conditions before receiving an extinguishing impulse, which is to say in a condition where no information is stored in the memory magnets, then the extinguishing signal will hold the memory magnets in this position, but by way of a simultaneously following information-introducing series of impulses on the particular memory magnet which at any instant receives an extinguishing signal this memory magnet will be reversely magnetized into the selection-retaining condition immediately after the extinguishing signal. Since at the corresponding contact after the extinguishing impulse there cannot be another extinguishing impulse, a voltage impulse in one of the read-out conductors LG, LU also is not possible and as a result ifa new selecting signal is introduced into a memory magnet simultaneously with the occurrence of the extinguishing impulse, this selection signal will be retained and will become effective only during the next time that the scanner engages the particular contact during the continued movement of the record magazine.

In order to bring about in a special case a rapid extinguishing of an entire series of selection signals simultaneously retained in the memory magnets of a given group or part of a group, without setting the recordplaying mechanism into operation, the record magazine and scanner are permitted to continue to move at the corresponding location but a manually operable switch S5 in the circuit connected to the dual read-out amplifier means DLV (FIG. 3) is opened, to interrupt the circuit of the amplifier means by opening of the switch S5. In order to bring about a rapid interruption of selection signals in a plurality of memory magnets corresponding to a given group or part of a group, during the corresponding continued movement of the record magazine and scanner AG the first reversing switch means S1 is actuated by the operator to reverse the flow of current in the collector conductor LoS, as well as in the particular contact which happens at this instant to be engaged by the scanner AG and the extinguishing conductor Lo connected thereto, this reversal of current being transmitted in this way to the slip member SL, while simultaneously the energizing of the dual read-out amplifier means DLV is rendered ineffective by interruption of the conductor AL through opening of the switch in this conductor which is operated by the reversing switch means S1, as shown in FIG. 2.

However, if in contrast to both of the above special cases all of the memory magnets A 1/2 0 9/10 are to be immediately discharged of the selection signals retained therein, so that they are all to be immediately returned to their initial condition, or if all of the memory magnets are to be simultaneously provided in a pulse fashion with signal-selecting information, so as to be reversely magnetized from their initial condition, then while the record magazine and scanner AG remains stationary the second reversing switch means S2 is operated, this latter switch means having its first and second inputs connected to the first and second outputs of the first reversing switch means S1. In this way as a result of the opening of the circuits through the first and second stationary contacts of the reversing switch S2, there is a complete interruption of the flow of current through the collecting LoS, through any one of the signal-extinguishing conductors, the scanner AG and the slip member SL, and instead there are created through the first and second operating contacts of the reversing switch means S2 a pair of parallel circuits through the read-out conductors LG and LU. These conductors are now separated from the read-out amplifier means DLV through a pair of additional contacts of the reversing switch means S2 and are connected in parallel with the second operating contact of the reversing switch means S2 and through a further contact of the reversing switch means S2 are separated from the zero potential line and instead are connected with the first operating contact. If the first reversing switch means S1 is not actuated, then through the read-out conductors LG and LU which are now connected in parallel there is from the positive potential line first a control circuit having a duration of approximately 40 ms until ignition of the unijunction transistor T1 takes place as a result of the retarding provided by the RC circuit, and after this ignition of the unijunction transistor T1 the switching transistor T2 suddenly becomes conductive in a pulsetype of operation, thus activating the switching circuit in an extinguishing manner so that all of the memory magnets are simultaneously reversely magnetized into their initial condition.

If an instantaneous introduction of selection signals into all of the memory magnets is desired, then both of the reversing switch means S1 and S2 are simultaneously actuated. Through this additional operation of the reversing switch means S1 the direction of current flow in the read-out conductors LG and LU which now serve primarily for introducing the selection signals is reversed with respect to the previously described extinguishing operation, and all of the memory magnets A1, A2 O are thus reversely magnetized in the opposite direction for storing the selection signals.

The advantages achieved with the invention reside particularly in the fact that with an automatic record changer having a rotary, ring-shaped record magazine and a stationary playing mechanism or with a machine of the type where the record magazine is linearly arranged and the playing mechanism moves back and forth relative thereto, when there is a selection of both sides of a single record these sides can be immediately played one directly after the other. Also, the selection of a record with the introduction of the selection signal in the corresponding memory magnet can take place even during scanning and extinguishing operations without in any way limiting the possibility of making selections. In addition either the extinguishing of or the transmission of selection signals to any desired group of memory magnets corresponding to a given program of playing can be carried out during corresponding continuous relative movement of the magazine and playing mechanism one with respect to the other, or a complete program of playing of selected record sides can be in one sudden pulsation type of operation extinguished or introduced while the magazine remains stationary in the case where the magazine moves or while the playing mechanism remains stationary in the case where the latter moves. In addition the operating life as well as the reliability of the operation of the contacts across which the scanner sweeps on the support for the memory magnets is achieved by preventing burning of the edges of the contacts by means of electronic measures of optimum value.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to one preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a preferred embodiment, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for automatically playing selected records, support means, a first row of apertured memory magnets carried by said support means and respectively corresponding to one of the sides of a series of records carried by a magazine, a second row of apertured memory magnets carried by said support means beside said first row, said second row of memory magnets respectively corresponding to the other side of the series of records, and the memory magnets of said second row being respectively aligned with the memory magnets of said first row to form pairs of aligned memory magnets in said rows, and each pair of aligned memory magnets respectively corresponding to opposite sides of a single record, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts carried by said support means and forming a third row of elements located beside one of said rows of memory magnets with the number of said contacts equalling the number of memory magnets in each row thereof and with each of said contacts corresponding to a given pair of aligned memory magnets, a plurality of signalextinguishing conductors respectively extending first through the apertured memory magnets of said first row and then through the memory magnets of said second row so that each pair of aligned memory magnets has one of said signal-extinguishing conductors extending therethrough, said signal-extinguishing conductors respectively being electrically connected at one of their ends to the contacts which respectively correspond to the pairs of aligned memory magnets through which the signal-extinguishing conductors respectively extend, a single elongated collector conductor carried by said support means and electrically connected to ends of said signal-extinguishing conductors distant from said contacts, so that said collecting conductor is common to all of said signal-extinguishing conductors, an electrically conductive slip member carried by said support means and extending along while being spaced from the row of contacts, an electrically conductive scanner bridging the space between said slip member and said row of contacts, moving means operatively connected with said scanner for moving the latter along the row of contacts and along the slip member for successively connecting the contacts electrically with the slip mem* ber, said moving means moving the magazine of records simultaneously with said scanner, a first read-out conductor extending through all of the memory magnets in said first row, a second read-out conductor extending through all of the memory magnets in said second row, dual read-out amplifier means electrically connected with said first and second read-out conductors for amplifying signals received therefrom, and manually operable electrical selecting means electrically connected with said memory magnets for transmitting thereto signals corresponding to selected sides of said records, so that memory magnets corresponding to selected sides of said records will have signals transmitted thereto to be extinguished through the corresponding signal-extinguishing conductors during movement of said scanner, and electrical circuit means electrically connected with said slip member, said common collector conductor, and said amplifier means for extinguishing a selection signal stored in selected memory magnets when the scanner engages a contact corresponding to a signal-storing memory magnet and for providing through said first and second read-out conductors a response in said amplifier means which will bring about playing of a selected side of a selected record corresponding to the memory magnet which has its signal extinguished, said manually operable selecting means maintaining the signals in the corresponding memory magnets at least as long as said manually operable selecting means is operated manually to introduce signals.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a reversing switch means is electrically connected with said slip member and said common collector conductor for reversing the polarity of said slip member and collector conductor to a polarity corresponding to that which is present when a selection signal is transmitted to said memory magnets.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said circuit means includs a switching circuit having a switching transistor for transmitting an extinguishing impulse to a selection signal storing memory magnet and said circuit means further including an RC control circuit electrically connected through said slip member to said scanner, said RC control circuit having an adjustable time constant resistor, said circuit means further including a unijunction transistor having an emitter connected with said adjustable time constant resistor, and said circuit means having a zero potential conductor electrically connected through a capacitor of said RC circuit with said emitter, said unijunction transistor having a base terminal and said circuit means having a positive potential conductor, a resistor connected thereto and also connected with said base terminal, and said unijunction transistor having a second base terminal, and said circuit means having an additional resistor connected to said second base terminal and said zero potential conductor, said circuit means having a further resistor electrically connected to said second base terminal and to a base of said switching transistor of said switching circuit, said circuit means further including a thyristor having an ignition electrode, said circuit means having a resistor electrically connected between said ignition electrode and said second base terminal of said unijunction transistor, said thyristor having a cathode electrically connected to said zero potential conductor and an anode, a diode electrically connected to said anode and a resistor electrically connected between said diode and said RC circuit as well as said emitter of said unijunction transistor, and a pair of series-connected resistors and a second diode in series therewith electrically connected between said anode and said slip member, to be electrically connected therethrough to said scanner, and a vibrationprotecting capacitor electrically connected between said zero potential conductor and a junction between the series connected resistors which are connected to said anode of said thyristor, said switching transistor having a collector, a resistor connected thereto and also electrically connected with said slip member to be electrically connected with said scanner, and a conductor electrically connected between said second base terminal of said unijunction transistor and the resistor connected to the base of said switching transistor, said conductor also being electrically connected with said read-out amplifier means for activating the latter, and an auxiliary positive potential conductor carrying a switch actuated by said dual read-out amplifier means and a resistor, said auxiliary positive potential conductor being connected to said ignition electrode of said thyristor.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said manually operable selecting means includes a first series of group-selecting conductors respectively extending through predetermined groups of said memory magnets with each of said groups having memory magnets both in said first and in said second rows of memory magnets and a series of side-selecting conductors respectively extending through each of the memory magnets of each group which corresponds to a given side of a record in each group, said circuit means having opposed positive and zero potential lines, and said selecting means including a series of group-selecting switches electrically connected between said positive potential line and said group-selecting conductors, respectively, for closing circuits between selected group-selecting conductors and said positive potential line, said selecting means also including a series of side-selecting switches electrically connected between said positive potential line and said side-selecting conductors, respectively, for respectively connecting selected record sides to said positive potential line, and said selecting means further including an astable multivibrator having complementary transistors and a switch means operatively connected with said group-selecting switches for responding to closing of any one of the latter switches to connect said astable multivibrator between said positive and zero potential lines, a terminal resistor electrically connected to said astable multivibrator for receiving the output therefrom, said output being substantially in the form of an impulse of rectangular wave form, and said output being transmitted through said terminal resistor, and a pair of elongated conductors carried by said support means, both connected electrically to said terminal resistor to receive the output therefrom, and one of the latter elongated conductors being electrically connected with each of said group-selecting conductors for transmitting the output of said astable multivibrator thereto while the other of the latter elongated conductors is electrically connected with each of said sideselecting conductors for transmitting the output of said astable multivibrator thereto.

5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said reversing switch means forms a first reversing switch means having a pair of outputs, a second reversing switch means having a pair of inputs respectively connected electrically with said outputs, said second reversing switch means being electrically connected with said common collector conductor and said slip member as well as with said read out conductors for connecting said slip member, said common collecting conductor, and said read-out conductors to said zero potential, and said second reversing switch means also being electrically connected between said read-out conductors and said dual read-out amplifier means for controlling the electrical connection between the latter and said readout conductors, said second reversing switch means having a position for connecting said read-out conductors to each other as well as to an output of said first reversing switch means, and an activating conductor electrically connected with said dual read-out amplifier means and having a manually operable switch means for opening and closing said activating conductor as well as an additional switch for opening and closing said activating conductor and operatively connected with said first reversing switch means to be operated thereby. 

1. In a machine for automatically playing selected records, support means, a first row of apertured memory magnets carried by said support means and respectively corresponding to one of the sides of a series of records carried by a magazine, a second row of apertured memory magnets carried by said support means beside said first row, said second row of memory magnets respectively corresponding to the other side of the series of records, and the memory magnets of said second row being respectively aligned with the memory magnets of said first row to form pairs of aligned memory magnets in said rows, and each pair of aligned memory magnets respectively corresponding to opposite sides of a single record, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts carried by said support means and forming a third row of elements located beside one of said rows of memory magnets with the number of said contacts equalling the number of memory magnets in each row thereof and with each of said contacts corresponding to a given pair of aligned memory magnets, a plurality of signalextinguishing conductors respectively extending first through the apertured memory magnets of said first row and then through the memory magnets of said second row so that each pair of aligned memory magnets has one of said signal-extinguishing conductors extending therethrough, said signal-extinguishing conductors respectively being electrically connected at one of their ends to the contacts which respectively correspond to the pairs of aligned memory magnets through which the signal-extinguishing conductors respectively extend, a single elongated collector conductor carried by said support means and electrically connected to ends of said signal-extinguishing conductors distant from said contacts, so that said collecting conductor is common to all of said signal-extinguishing conductors, an electrically conductive slip member carried by said support means and extending along while being spaced from the row of contacts, an electrically conductive scanner bridging the space between said slip member and said row of contacts, moving means operatively connected with said scanner for moving the latter alOng the row of contacts and along the slip member for successively connecting the contacts electrically with the slip member, said moving means moving the magazine of records simultaneously with said scanner, a first read-out conductor extending through all of the memory magnets in said first row, a second read-out conductor extending through all of the memory magnets in said second row, dual readout amplifier means electrically connected with said first and second read-out conductors for amplifying signals received therefrom, and manually operable electrical selecting means electrically connected with said memory magnets for transmitting thereto signals corresponding to selected sides of said records, so that memory magnets corresponding to selected sides of said records will have signals transmitted thereto to be extinguished through the corresponding signal-extinguishing conductors during movement of said scanner, and electrical circuit means electrically connected with said slip member, said common collector conductor, and said amplifier means for extinguishing a selection signal stored in selected memory magnets when the scanner engages a contact corresponding to a signal-storing memory magnet and for providing through said first and second read-out conductors a response in said amplifier means which will bring about playing of a selected side of a selected record corresponding to the memory magnet which has its signal extinguished, said manually operable selecting means maintaining the signals in the corresponding memory magnets at least as long as said manually operable selecting means is operated manually to introduce signals.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a reversing switch means is electrically connected with said slip member and said common collector conductor for reversing the polarity of said slip member and collector conductor to a polarity corresponding to that which is present when a selection signal is transmitted to said memory magnets.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said circuit means includs a switching circuit having a switching transistor for transmitting an extinguishing impulse to a selection signal storing memory magnet and said circuit means further including an RC control circuit electrically connected through said slip member to said scanner, said RC control circuit having an adjustable time constant resistor, said circuit means further including a unijunction transistor having an emitter connected with said adjustable time constant resistor, and said circuit means having a zero potential conductor electrically connected through a capacitor of said RC circuit with said emitter, said unijunction transistor having a base terminal and said circuit means having a positive potential conductor, a resistor connected thereto and also connected with said base terminal, and said unijunction transistor having a second base terminal, and said circuit means having an additional resistor connected to said second base terminal and said zero potential conductor, said circuit means having a further resistor electrically connected to said second base terminal and to a base of said switching transistor of said switching circuit, said circuit means further including a thyristor having an ignition electrode, said circuit means having a resistor electrically connected between said ignition electrode and said second base terminal of said unijunction transistor, said thyristor having a cathode electrically connected to said zero potential conductor and an anode, a diode electrically connected to said anode and a resistor electrically connected between said diode and said RC circuit as well as said emitter of said unijunction transistor, and a pair of series-connected resistors and a second diode in series therewith electrically connected between said anode and said slip member, to be electrically connected therethrough to said scanner, and a vibration-protecting capacitor electrically connected between said zero potential condUctor and a junction between the series connected resistors which are connected to said anode of said thyristor, said switching transistor having a collector, a resistor connected thereto and also electrically connected with said slip member to be electrically connected with said scanner, and a conductor electrically connected between said second base terminal of said unijunction transistor and the resistor connected to the base of said switching transistor, said conductor also being electrically connected with said read-out amplifier means for activating the latter, and an auxiliary positive potential conductor carrying a switch actuated by said dual read-out amplifier means and a resistor, said auxiliary positive potential conductor being connected to said ignition electrode of said thyristor.
 4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said manually operable selecting means includes a first series of group-selecting conductors respectively extending through predetermined groups of said memory magnets with each of said groups having memory magnets both in said first and in said second rows of memory magnets and a series of side-selecting conductors respectively extending through each of the memory magnets of each group which corresponds to a given side of a record in each group, said circuit means having opposed positive and zero potential lines, and said selecting means including a series of group-selecting switches electrically connected between said positive potential line and said group-selecting conductors, respectively, for closing circuits between selected group-selecting conductors and said positive potential line, said selecting means also including a series of side-selecting switches electrically connected between said positive potential line and said side-selecting conductors, respectively, for respectively connecting selected record sides to said positive potential line, and said selecting means further including an astable multivibrator having complementary transistors and a switch means operatively connected with said group-selecting switches for responding to closing of any one of the latter switches to connect said astable multivibrator between said positive and zero potential lines, a terminal resistor electrically connected to said astable multivibrator for receiving the output therefrom, said output being substantially in the form of an impulse of rectangular wave form, and said output being transmitted through said terminal resistor, and a pair of elongated conductors carried by said support means, both connected electrically to said terminal resistor to receive the output therefrom, and one of the latter elongated conductors being electrically connected with each of said group-selecting conductors for transmitting the output of said astable multivibrator thereto while the other of the latter elongated conductors is electrically connected with each of said side-selecting conductors for transmitting the output of said astable multivibrator thereto.
 5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said reversing switch means forms a first reversing switch means having a pair of outputs, a second reversing switch means having a pair of inputs respectively connected electrically with said outputs, said second reversing switch means being electrically connected with said common collector conductor and said slip member as well as with said read-out conductors for connecting said slip member, said common collecting conductor, and said read-out conductors to said zero potential, and said second reversing switch means also being electrically connected between said read-out conductors and said dual read-out amplifier means for controlling the electrical connection between the latter and said read-out conductors, said second reversing switch means having a position for connecting said read-out conductors to each other as well as to an output of said first reversing switch means, and an activating conductor electrically connected with said dual read-out amplifier meanS and having a manually operable switch means for opening and closing said activating conductor as well as an additional switch for opening and closing said activating conductor and operatively connected with said first reversing switch means to be operated thereby. 